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Council bosses have given their backing to the Ski Rossendale Social Enterprise group to take over the running of the site which closed earlier this year following council cutbacks.

Two bidders made presentations to council leaders to run the centre – but officials have now opted to back a Rossendale social enterprise.

No official announcement will be made until July 19 because of a legal process which allows the other bidder – Cornwall-based Proslope – the right to challenge the decision.

David Fuller, one of the four key members of the social enterprise, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the decision to go with the social enterprise and we are looking forward to a fantastic future for Ski Rossendale.

“People can be rest assured that we will give it our utmost commitment to make it a success going forward.

“We want to thank everybody who has helped us and we are indebted to their support, whether that be financial or professional.

“Without them we wouldn’t have got to where we are now.

“We will be looking to use all the pledges to get Ski Rossendale up to scratch as soon as we can. The future looks really bright and we are really excited.” The Free Press understands the centre could reopen as soon as August or September.

Council leader coun Alyson Barnes said: “Our preferred provider is the Ski Rossendale Social Enterprise but we are now in a legal process which needs to be played out.

“I am delighted that we have got a successful outcome but we need to wait until July 19 for this process to go through and we can then confirm arrangements after that.”

Chris O’Connell, owner of Proslope, said: “Proslope would like to congratulate the Ski Rossendale team on their successful tender for the slope and we look forward to hopefully working with them on their programme of improvements.

“More than anything, we are pleased that the premier centre for snow sports in the north-west will re-open and that the people of Rossendale and the surrounding area will have a centre to be proud of. We wish the team well and they will have our fullest support.”

The historic slope, which staged world record attempts, welcomed Olympic athletes and supported countless stars, closed its doors in March after 40 years.

It came after Rossendale Council decided to cease funding to the artificial ski slope as it struggles to find £3m of savings over the next year due to government funding cuts.

Since its closure, the council have been considering applications from several groups keen to take over the site.

The Free Press reported in January how the social enterprise, which is a community organisation, was looking to take over the attraction which drew in thousands of keen skiers and snowboarders.

The group said they were looking for around £200,000 in private sector investments, public funds and grant aids to fully reopen the facility.

If the Social Enterprise are officially announced as the new owners, they would look to reopen the site by September after completing essential maintenance.